Amber Warfield (Denae Perie)

About the Project

Danger Stranger was composed in December of 2020 and started as an assignment for a Queer Literature class. This piece was inspired by James Baldwin’s essay “Stranger in the Village,” which is a gateway to understanding the thought process and revelations found from a person of color living in an all-white town. Baldwin concludes that experiences with white people in a small village in Switzerland are like his experiences in America.

The ideals of race relations and white supremacy in America stem from the European descendants who monopolized American land and used African slaves as a source for free labor. Danger Stranger takes on James Baldwin’s perspective during this time and focuses on the irrational sentiments of white privilege and slavery.

“Danger stranger” is repeated throughout my work to symbolize my own conclusions growing up in a white neighborhood. I understand what it feels like to move to a new town and want to have a mental breakdown because my peers would make fun of my facial features. A white person could never completely understand how aware a black person is of their body in a social setting. The is no real sense of safety living as a black person. The “stranger” is in danger in Baldwin’s essay because having black skin was comparative to the appearance of the devil, and this idea provoked fear and wonder in the village.

The first verse is an overview of the culture in the village. The village is isolated, and the people do not have a substantial amount of access to the arts or knowledge of popular culture in the media. In a small town, everyone knows who Baldwin is because he is the first black person they have been in close contact with. Purchasing and converting Africans to follow the Christian faith was a large part of this village’s history, but Baldwin doesn’t recognize it as something that has been left in the past. The children are still dressing themselves in black face and saying the “n” word without breaking down the damage these actions can cause. In history, white people have moved by idea of an intangible authority and need to control the spaces the occupy.

The second verse is hinting at the idea that white people don't want to be called “racist” or told that their ancestors damaged the lives of millions of Africans through slavery. However, accountability is never overrated. By purchasing Africans and teaching them about what freedom means through one perspective, that language will continue to be passed down until someone recognizes a different perspective. Through Baldwin’s narrative, I focused on including the details that could not be ignored. Baldwin’s father was an abuser of drugs and I imagine that being in Switzerland caused him to be tempted to take his mind off his experiences with white people.

The third verse is a call for justice. Black people are not dangerous. Black people are not impenetrable. Black people are not slaves. There is hope that the world will come to understand our existence. We will continue to fight to be recognized.

About Amber Walfield

Amber Warfield, otherwise known as Denae Perie, is an energetic songwriter, creative, vocalist, rapper, and arranger from the West Side of Chicago. Known for her soprano range and expressive whistle tones, she has performed at various mediums such as the Adler Planetarium, WGN News, and Inspiration 1390 radio station.

Denae Perie is currently a senior at Columbia College Chicago studying vocal performance. Her greatest musical influence comes from her gospel upbringing and she often incorporates rap, harmony, and call and response tactics into her arrangements. Writing songs became a necessary act for emotional dissection at a young age. Through the encouragement of her mentors and peers, she started to write about her own experiences with racism, sexism, and assault but also the stories of other minority artists.

Denae Perie calls herself a “forever student” because there is always something new to learn and evaluate after every performance and collaboration. She enjoys working with artists of all backgrounds and connecting the stories of the past with colorful rhythms and sounds. Outside of creating music, she studies different languages and connects with her spiritual self through meditation and movement activities. Her audience is captivated by her openness and the connection she has with the message in the music. Her live performances are honest and centered around peace and free speech.

She performed Danger Stranger live with Next Showcase USA in April of this year. She is also working on releasing her first EP that is inspired by minority authors and poets who have shaped her understanding of what she values in life.